Snow on the Sahara (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Snow on the Sahara
Type = studio
Longtype =
Artist = Anggun


Released = 1997-1998
Recorded = 1996-1997 at Bateu-Lune Studio, Paris
Genre = World Music, Adult Contemporary, Pop, Rock
Length =
Label = Kevin Organisation, Columbia/Sony Music France, Epic Records (US), Sony Music International (Worldwide)
Producer(s) = Erick Benzi
Reviews =
Last album = Desirs Contraires (2000)
This album = Luminescence (2005/2006)
Next album = Best-Of (2006)

"Snow on the Sahara" was the first studio album recorded by Anggun in English. The album debuted exactly a year after the French version Au Nom de la Lune was released by Sony Music France on June 24th, 1997.

History

The album contains 16 songs which are taken from the French version and re-recorded in English. Lyrics were translated and re-written by songwriter Nikki Matheson. Snow on the Sahara was marketed in 33 countries around the world in 1998. In Japan, the album was released there in late 1997 under the title Anggun with 3 additional tracks added ("La Neige au Sahara", "De Soleil et d'ombres" and "La Rose des vents") while in Indonesia, the album was released under the same title in 1998 with the track "By The Moon" replaced by the French version, "Au nom de la Lune".For some reason, "Memory of Your Shores" is omitted from the US version, although it's been cited as fans favorite. Anggun also did a cover version of David Bowie's hit, "Life On Mars", which was also released as a US promotional single.This album remains Anggun's highest selling album and Anggun also marked a history for being the first Asian artist to enter Billboard Charts in United States (Snow on the Sahara went to #23 on Billboard Heatseekers Charts and the single peaked at #16 on Adult Contemporary Chart). The album reportedly has sold over 1 million copies around the world, also marking Anggun as the highest selling Asian artist outside Asia.The single "Snow On The Sahara" also remains to be Anggun's signature song (for fans outside France, Italy and Indonesia - who are more familiar with Etre Une Femme/In Your Mind or Cesse La Pluie/Saviour). It's Anggun's most charted song (with being #1 in Italy) and was one of the biggest hits in 1997 and 1998. In Indonesia, Snow on the Sahara remains to be Anggun's most played song, even went to frequent airplays on some radio stations in Indonesia in 2005.With its enchanting ethnic beats and influences of Adult Contemporary, Pop and Rock sounds, Snow on the Sahara has also been cited as "one of the greatest albums ever made" by fans, although it was miserably missed by the critics. However, Allmusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, citing that Anggun "illustrates enough full-formed talent on the disc to make it a promising debut".

Re-Release

In 1999, due to the positive response from Malaysian fans on her Indonesian single, "Kembali", Sony Music Malaysia released the Indonesian version for Malaysia market.

Track listing

*Malaysia/International Standard Edition

*Indonesian Edition/Malaysia Re-release Edition

ingles

1. Snow on the Sahara
* #1 Indonesia Airplay Chart (2 weeks)
* #1 Italy
* #16 Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Chart
* #21 Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart
* #20 Finland
* #24 Switzerland
* #55 Germany

2. A Rose in the Wind
* #17 Italy

3. Life on Mars (US Promotional Single)

4. Dream of Me (Japan only)

Trivia

#"Snow on the Sahara" video was shot twice - one for the French version and the other for US and international version.
#The first single (Snow on the Sahara) was used in Swatch TV ads back in 1998 and 1999.
#"A Rose in the Wind" and its French version "La Rose des Vents" videos were shot in a Paris studio with a total duration of 24 hours.
#Neither "Life on Mars" nor "Dream of Me" have videos.
#Snow on the Sahara was Anggun's first album to receive Top 3 spot on RIM album sales chart for months.
#Overall, one million copies of Snow on the Sahara album were snapped, according to the official sources.
#Snow on the Sahara was certified gold in Malaysia while the later version, Anggun received Platinum status.